Yard [027] : Sadhana

Dear Friends,

Namaste!

We saw in the last article how our life and evolution can be simulated to graduating from a school. We discussed various levels, the diverse student profiles and curricula therein. Now, let’s explore the unity in this diversity.

Notwithstanding various ‘standards’ that students in a school may belong to at a given point in time, there are a few things that are common in their lifestyle. All of them wish to gain and apply knowledge to be able to progress to the next level to finally graduate. (The whole system is solely and specifically designed for this purpose.) They follow the same rules and regulations. They are governed by the same management. Most obvious commonality of all, the students are expected to ‘study’, i.e., put in focused and continuous effort to move to the next level!

Some features of this ‘study’ are:

• It applies to all without exception (although the curriculum and nature of study may be different for different standards) 
•  It is expected to be done relentlessly (barring small breaks) – indeed the more regular a student is, the better he/she does at school
• It is expected that the student leverages resources at his/her disposal judiciously to gain and apply the knowledge
• It is expected that the student is dedicated and sincere in his physical, emotional and intellectual effort.

In Yogic terminology, the students in the School of Life are called as “Sadhakas” (aspirants), graduation is called as “Sadhya” (the ultimate goal), the study is called as “Sadhana” (practice) and the graduates are called as “Siddhas” (the enlightened).

“Sadhana” is the incessant, daily practice we need to undertake to first attain extreme physical, mental, intellectual and social fitness and then transcend it to be totally, eternally, infinitely and irrevocably happy!

 Let’s go through the story of Karna, the great warrior from the Maha-Bharat era, to put “Sadhana” in perspective, to understand its importance.

Karna was born to Kunti, wife of Pandu – the great Pandava ruler of Aryavarta – from the Sun.

Kunti knew she could not get Karna accepted as the legal heir to the throne. With a heavy heart, she put him in a basket and left him in water stream.

Thence he was found and brought up with loving care by the charioteer of the Kauravas. (Kauravas were competing with Pandavas – the incumbents – for the throne).

Karna soon came into his element and became well-known for his abilities. He was accepted and given great status and privileges within the Kaurava clan in spite of Karna being an adopted son of their charioteer.

The Sun also was extremely pleased and wished that Karna would become the most famous warrior mankind has ever known. He wanted Karna to be invincible and hence very benevolently donated his powerful ‘Kavach’ (an armor) and ‘Kundalas’ (earrings) to him.

The Sun blessed Karna, “Nobody in the world will ever be able to defeat you in battlefield as long as you wear these Kavach and Kundalas”.

Karna was also known as much for his kindness as his capabilities as a warrior. In the role of a donor, he would never say ‘No’ to anyone at anytime.

Subsequently the famous Kurukshetra war for the throne broke out between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Lord Krishna was consulting the Pandavas whereas Karna was loyal to his friends more than his step-brothers and decided to fight for Kauravas.

Krishna knew only too well that it would be impossible to defeat Karna as long as he wore the Kavach and Kundalas. Therefore he decided to wear the guise of a poor Brahmin and go to Karna to ask for the very Kavach and Kundalas!

Karna’s father, the Sun, getting a whiff of this, appeared in Karna’s dream the night before and warned him against donating his protective gear. However, Karna was ready to die for the principles he lived by! Sure enough, he donated his Kavach and Kundalas to the poor Brahmin (read Lord Krishna) the next morning.

Karna fought his arch rival Arjuna the same day on the battlefield without the Kavach/Kundalas. His chariot was grounded as the epic battle between the two finest archers reached its peak and in that circumstance, under Krishna’s instructions, Arjuna vanquished the invincible Karna.

Sad as Karna’s story may be, the point is very different. The point is – Karna was insuperable for as long as he wore Kavach and Kundalas. Likewise, we become invincible on the battleground called ‘Life’ as long as we faithfully stick to our ‘Sadhana’!!

In our next article, we shall see the elements of ‘Sadhana’. The elements that give us supreme physical, mental, intellectual and social fitness. And help us transcend it all and reach our destination! The elements that ensure there is only one winner on Life’s battleground – us!!!

Ciao…